Snap for jewelry



C. A. FORD.

SNAP FOR JEWELRY.

APPLICATiDN mm "5.21. I92!- 1 {106,179, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

INVENTOR w f- M .m uzv.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

an All a was, of Essa? tame-e, NEW JERSEY.

San roa JEWELRY.

Applicatiiin med April 27, 1921-. Serial Nb. $64,355.

To all whoin it ma con-cam:

Be it known that I, CIiAR'LEs A. FORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, county of Es'seir, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snaps for Jewelry and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved snap for jewelry such as is used on bracelets and other strands but it is particularly adapted for use on necklaces.

The improved snap is substantially flat when assembled. is cheap to make and is secure under tension or relaxation of tension, but can be quickly and easily separated when it is the intention to do so. The snap requires no screwing and has no moving parts, simply composing two members which, when positively tilted or twisted relative to each other, are separated.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. in which Figural is a perspective view of the snap with the members separated. Figure 2 is a top view showing the members snapped together. Figure 3 is a central section of Figure 2. Figures 4, 5 and 6 are top views of modified forms with the members separated.

The snap comprises two members secured to the members to be joined, the drawing showing two ends of a chain 10 which represents a necklace. One member 11 is substantially fiat and is made of resilient material, for durability metal being usually employed. This fiat spring metal sheet is provided with a slit 12 extending inwardly from one edge, usually the front edge, and intermediate of its length it has an enlargement or hole 18 to which the slit extends, this being preferably accomplished by re cessing each edge of the slit. these recesses being aligned.

The member 14 is also made of a Hat sheet. usually metal, which sheet is preferably materially larger than the enlargement i The sheet 14 has a stud on it which stud includes a head 15 and a neck 16, the neck being close up to the sheet 14 so that the sheet 11 can be firmly seated between the head 15 and the sheet 14. This causes the two members to be firmly held together and they move in unison. the edges of the sheet ll extending beyond the edges of the sheet 11, thus acting as a fender, and when one member turns, the other turns with it and they st'ay locked together. d

When the members of the snap are; to be assembled, all that it is necessary to do is to push the headed stud lip through the hole 13, and as the top of the head 15 is rounded,- it spreads the two arms of the member 11 that flank the slit 12, and then when these arms embrace the neck 16 the parts are together and they resist tension and accidental separation under relaxation, since the two flat sheets of metal, one being smaller than the other, stay together.

lVhen the parts are to be separated one 18 grasped in one hand and the other in the other hand, usually between the thumb and forefinger, and if they are given a rotative motion relative to each other the two jaws flanking the slit in the member 11 are twisted out of alignment and the headed stud 15 is canted, and with a continuation of this rotative movement the headed stud is turned out of the hole 13. or the two members can be tilted longitudinally. in which case the ends of the jaws flanking the slit 11 act as a fulcrum against the sheet 14, and the leverage being applied to the rear end of the sheet 11, the jaws of the member 11 are spread apart and pass over the edges of the head 15 and the members are thus separated.

On their rear edges the members are provided with means for attaching them to a chain or other strand, in the form shown this means comprising eyelets 17.

In Figure 4 I show a modified form in which the member 11 is circular and the member 14 has its stud provided with a jewel 18, which provides, when the members are assembled. an ornamental and symmetrical clasp or snap.

In Figure 5 I show still another modified form in which the member 11 is elongated and provides a considerable bearing surface to rest against the body of the wearer. and in Figure 6 I show still another modified form in which the member 11 is shown slightly narrower than the member 14, in this construction the member 14: acting to fend or protect the side edges of the member 11. so that the members will move in unison when they are canted or tilted slightly. although it will be evident that the main strain is a tensional one. and with the parts as illustrated in Figure 3 it will be evident that a straight pull on the two members will not act to separate them, butit requires tilting or canting to enable the stud to pass out through the enlargement 13 in the slit 12. 1

I claim:

1. A snap for jewelry comprising one member of flat material with a headed stud member of flat material with a headed stud thereon and means at oneend for securing it to an element, and a second member, the member having a hole therein and a' slit extending from one edge to the hole, the member havin means on one end for securing it to an e em'ent and for manipulating the said second member to release it. y

2. A snap for jewelry comprisin one member of flat material with a heade stud thereon, and a second member of elon ated form and of fiat spring material, sai seo- 0nd member having a hole near oneend and means fofsecuring the second member to an element at the other end, said member having aslit extending from the hole to one edge of the member.

'3. 'A snap for jewelry comprising one thereon, and a second member of elongated form and made ,of flat spring material, said second member having a hole near one end, the other end forming a handle for its manipulation, the second member having a slit extending from the hole to one edge of the member.

In testimony that I claim the fore oing, I have hereto set my hand, this 26th ay of April, 1921.

CHAS. A. FORD. 

